Psalm 141:4 - A Prayer Not To Sin

Psa.141:4: A Prayer Not To Sin

Psa 141:4 (KJV)  Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to
practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of
their dainties.

Psa 141:4 (NIV)  Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to
take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat
of their delicacies.

Psa 141:4 (TEV)  Keep me from wanting to do wrong and from
joining evil men in their wickedness. May I never take part in their
feasts.

Psa 141:4 (NCV)  Take away my desire to do evil or to join
others in doing wrong. Don't let me eat tasty food with those who do
evil.

Psa 141:4 (CEV)  Don't let me want to do evil or waste my time
doing wrong with wicked people.  Don't let me even taste the good
things they offer.

Psa 141:4 (CWB)  Keep me from wanting to give in to temptations
or to do evil.  Help me not to make friends with wicked men or to
join with them in their evil deeds.

Psa 141:4 (NLT)  Don't let me lust for evil things; don't let me
participate in acts of wickedness. Don't let me share in the delicacies of
those who do evil.

Psa 141:4 (TLB)  Take away my lust for evil things; don't let me
want to be with sinners, doing what they do, sharing their
delicacies.

Psalm 141 is a Prayer for Purity. [Daily Walk Bible],

A plea that God will keep him from speaking, desiring or doing
what is evil. [NIV SB]

David prays for a godly separation from the words, thoughts,
practices, and fellowship of the ungodly. [Ryrie SB]

The psalmist prays for strength to overcome temptation. He seeks
power to guard his speech, keep his heart pure, avoid the practices of
the wicked, [Wycliffe Bible Commentary]

While we live in an evil world, and have such evil hearts, we
have need to pray that we may neither be drawn nor driven to do any
thing sinful. [Matthew Henry Commentary]

David asked God to guard his heart. Evil acts begin with evil
desires. It isn't enough to ask God to keep you away from temptation,
make you stronger, or change your circumstances. You must ask him to
change you on the inside--at the level of your desires. [Life
Application SB]

"Incline not my heart to any evil thing; whatever inclination
there is in me to sin, let it be not only restrained, but mortified,
by divine grace." [Matthew Henry Commentary]

Stolen waters are sweet; forbidden fruit is pleasant to the eye.
But those that consider how soon the dainties of sin will turn into
wormwood and gall, how certainly it will, at last, bite like a serpent
and sting like an adder, will dread those dainties, and pray to God
by his providence to take them out of their sight, and by his grace
to turn them against them. (Matthew Henry's Commentary)

"Do not place me in circumstances where I may be tempted; do not
leave me to myself; do not allow any improper influence to come over
me by which I shall be led astray." The expression is similar to
that in the Lord's Prayer: "Lead us not into temptation."

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever. Amen.

We need to pray for God's help to avoid evil and sin.

In the context of this Psalm in vss. 8-10 we find the answer to
this prayer for protection from sin - we will be safe as long as we
keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. [Victor Bible Reader's Companion mod]

Hebrews 12:1-2  ...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin
which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race
that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith;...